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Human Rights Council - 30th Regular Session

Annual Discussion on Integrating a Gender Perspective

Australian Statement

15 September 2015

Australia welcomes the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. We welcome this opportunity to affirm Australia’s strong commitment to gender equality, the full and equal realisation of women’s and girls’ human rights, and efforts to achieve gender balance in international human rights bodies.

We urge all states promote the full and equal realisation of women’s rights. We are thus pleased with the strong commitments to gender equality in the Sustainable Development Goals.

We know that women continue to be under-represented in decision-making and leadership, and recognise that efforts to broaden and strengthen the voice and participation of women in leadership are crucial to the realisation of gender equality.

I would also like to mention Australia’s Male Champions of Change program established in 2010. This bring together some of Australia’s most influential male COEs with the aim of using their influence to elevate the issue of women’s representation in leadership on the national agenda.

I would also like to encourage states to appoint an Ambassador for Women and Girls. Australia’s experience has been that the creation of this position has a key role in gender advocacy both domestically and internationally. Australia calls on all members of the Council to ensure that the human rights of women are an integral part of its work including within its own governance mechanisms.

Australia and I particularly welcome the opportunity to participate in the Geneva Gender Champions and recommend this initiative to other States.

Does the panel have views on how the Human Rights Council could help us to share best practices, such as Australia’s Male Champions of Change?